Improvement in elevators and conveyers



W. F. SHANKS.

Improvement in Elevators and Conveyers. N0, 129,298, V Patentedlulyi6,1872.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. SHANKS, or LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELEVATORS AND CONVEVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 129,298, dated July 16, 1872.

, sponding parts.-

This invention relates to a new apparatus for the elevation and conveyance of buckets, the earth, or matter to be removed in the making of sewers and other excavations. The invention consists in the new arrangement of a movable trestle-frame containing elevatortracks and windlass for raising the buckets, as well as a series of connected trucks onthe elevator-tracks for conveying the buckets horiz ontally.

Ain the drawing represents a frame of suitable length, weight, and width, made of wood or other material, and supported on trucks B B at the sides, so as to straddle the place to be excavated. From the top of the frame A are suspended, by proper rods a a, the rails O G of two parallel tracks sufficiently far apart to allow the buckets, when suspended from both tracks, to pass each other. D D are small trucks placed on the rails 0. There is a suitable number of such trucks D on each track (J, but they are all connected with each other by ropes or chains. The trucks on the two tracks are connected with each other by a rope or chain, 12, passing around friction-rollers d at one end of theframe A, in such manner that when the trucks on one track are drawn in one direction those on the other track will thereby be drawn in the opposite direction. E E are the buckets, of suitable size and shape.

,They can be suspended from hooks c at the under side of the trucks D, so that the full buckets may be drawn toward the end of the frame A, the empty buckets being meanwhile returned to be refilled. F is a windlass hung to one side of the frame A, and provided with ratchet-wheel, brake, and the other ordinary appurtenances of a windlass. Chains f connect with the windlass and pass around friction-roller g on the top of the frame A for the;

purpose of hoisting the full and lowering the empty buckets. In detaching an empty bucket from a truck, D, the hook at the end of a chain, f, is placed around the bale of the bucket, and the windlass turned to raise the bucket sufficient to allow its detachment from the truck. Then the bucket is completely lowered. The filled buckets are raised by the same means and attached to the trucks, and then conveyed to where they can be emptied. Bein g supported on rails G, the frame A is moved from time to time, as may become necessary, during the progress of the work.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patcut- The movable frame A having the tracks (3 and windlass F, and combined with the trucks D, buckets E, and chains f, to operate substantially as herein shown and described.

WILLIAM FOUNTAIN SHANKS. Witnesses:

W. B. GRABLE,

J. B. WILLIAMSON. 

